Women Edged Out By Villa

Above all it was a great test for us and I’m pleased with a lot of individual performances"

Trevor Mullings

Wolves 0

Aston Villa 3

Wolves Women fell to their first defeat of pre-season in a match of high quality against Aston Villa at Castlecroft.

The first half saw both sides produce some excellent passing football, with nothing to choose between the two teams.

Wolves went close to opening the scoring inside ten minutes, when Jamillah Palmer beat her marker down the left wing, before firing at goal from range, seeing her shot go inches wide of the post.

Despite facing Super League opposition, Wolves matched Villa throughout the first half, and were not afraid to pass the ball around and build from the back.

Despite the high quality of passing from both sides, the match lacked the excitement of goal-mouth action, as both defences comfortably shut out the opposition for long periods.

Former Wolves player Lauren Walker went close for Villa as half time approached, bursting into the box from the left wing but could only drag her effort wide.

The second half saw both sides make changes, with Villa introducing some of their more experienced players into the line-up. These changes altered the balance of the game as Villa pressed higher up the pitch and began to create more chances. Wolves began to find it difficult to keep possession and pass their way into the Villa half, with the away side cranking up the pressure.

Villa finally made the pressure tell as the hour-mark approached, with a smart finish from 20 yards past Natalie Hall.

Wolves began to tire in the last 20 minutes as Villa made them chase the ball, and the visitors capitalised on their superiority with two more goals for a deserved win.

Wolves were well beaten by the full time whistle, but will be encouraged by their first half performance and passing.

Manager Trevor Mullings picked the positives from the game. He said: “It was a really impressive start to the game, playing some good combination football and not afraid to build up play from the back.

“As the game progressed, especially in the last 15 minutes, Villa's quality and fitness showed.

“Above all it was a great test for us and I’m pleased with a lot of individual performances.”